12/12/2024
December 2024 Volunteer News |
Dunning Park new flowering lawn with sign designed by RCMG Communications Committee (Photo by Karen Randall)
Heads up! |
Last Chance - Enter Your Hours!
Don’t forget to log into the Extension volunteer database and record the time you spent serving our community and growing your garden knowledge. You can’t enter any time spent in 2024 after Dec. 31. You can review information about Recording Your Time on the website. If you need help, contact Darren or Brianna as soon as you can.
Materials & Tools Check-In Deadline—12/21
We need to collect all of the RCMG materials, tools and equipment to update the inventory and replace anything that is wearing out. If you have any handouts, bookmarks, tote boxes, props, displays, signs, tables, awnings, or anything else, please bring it to the Resource Center before December 21.
New Volunteer Database System—Coming 2025
In December, Tim Kenny of the State Leadership Team announced that the existing volunteer database will be retired at the end of 2024 and all MGs will use Better Impact going forward. This transition will happen in Jan-Feb 2025 and volunteers will not be able to record their time. We’ll share more details once we have them! Stay tuned!
While we all wait, please print and use this Temporary Hours Sheet PDF while the new volunteer database is being set-up.
What to Expect in 2025
The new year will start with a bustle of activity! Here’s what to watch for in January. Please keep an eye on your inbox for invitations to get involved; email Darren and Brianna if you are not getting the messages.
Member Online Pre-sale
Intern-Mentor Welcome & Orientation
Contact info updates for the 2025 RCMG Directory
Volunteer awards for hours and years-of-service pick-up
Permanent name badges and certificates for graduated interns pick-up
Temporary name badges for new (2025) interns pick-up
Invitation to complete the updated Skills & Interest Survey
Change to minimum Continuing Education requirements
Intern Roadmap |
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Core Course Deadline - 12/31
All interns MUST complete the Core Course before 12/31/2024. Interns who fail to complete the course will not be able to continue volunteering in 2025. If you have not yet completed the coursework or are unsure about your progress, contact Darren or Brianna.
Internship Terms
By default, all new volunteers are expected to complete their internship requirements within 1 year. If you need a little more time, you have the opportunity to extend your internship by an additional year. You need to request it if you want an extension. Contact Darren or Brianna to sign-up for a 2-year internship.
Badge Pick-Up
Official badges will be available to all interns who completed their requirements starting in February. They will be sent to the Extension Office (“Barn”) and we’ll let you know when you can pick them up. Congratulations on all of the hard work!
Non-Profit News |
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Member Pre-sale - 1/01 - 1/10
The RCMG Plant Sale Committee is pleased to offer you the opportunity to shop the annual plant pre-sale, where RCMG volunteers can purchase flats of annual bedding plants & MN native plants at wholesale prices. This is only available to RCMG volunteers. Shopping starts January 1st and the deadline for final orders is January 10. Watch your email for a message and link!
Board Blurb
There was a lot to be thankful for in 2024 - members who continue to show up for our community, a productive Board of Directors and many positive changes to projects and finances. As we look forward to 2025, our membership can expect the implementation of our 3-year strategic plan, a bigger and better annual plant sale at Aldrich Arena, and a few behind-the-scenes updates. Here's to a happy and bountiful new year in your gardens!
Plant Sale Secretary Needed
The Plant Sale Committee is looking for someone to take notes at the monthly committee meetings on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:15 pm. If you can help out, please contact Molly O'Rourke at either (e) mollyfo.rourke@outlook.com or (ph) 651-491-9850.
Volunteer Activities |
New volunteer activities are announced on Thursday mornings and Sunday nights. If you are not receiving SignUp Genius notices, please contact Brianna Gohde.
Yard and Garden Phone Line - 12/30 - 1/05
Ramsey County gets to kick off the new year! Sign up now to answer resident’s garden questions from home through the Arboretum’s Yard & Garden hotline. These are excellent opportunities to volunteer remotely and build your garden knowledge at your own pace.
Grow for the Plant Sale - 5/17
As you plan your 2025 garden, consider contributing some plants to the RCMG plant sale. Sign up to grow Annual Flowers, Vegetables and Herbs, Native Plants and Houseplants. There will be more ways to get involved next spring.
Garden Journalists
The Garden Journalists research and write for the RCMG Garden Blog. If this sounds like something you like to do (and you want some great volunteer activities during the off-season) contact Tina Hammer at tinamariehammer@gmail.com for more information about how to apply.
Continuing Education Opportunities |
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Find approved opportunities to learn more on the RCMG website, the State MG Volunteer website, the MN Landscape Arboretum, or through Extension. Check with the program coordinator about other local events and learning opportunities.
November Meeting - Recording
If you missed the presentation of Buds, Blooms and Thorns, the annual peer-to-peer learning event in November, you can check out the recording and recap from the November Meeting on the RCMG website
Book Cub: The Comfort of Crows - 1/28
The next RCMG Book club discusses The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year
by Margaret Renkl on Tuesday 1/28. There are copies of this book available
through the RCMG Lending Library, and other copies available through the public library.
Ecosystem - Supportive Plant Selection - New Extension Hot Topic
Debuting at the Regional Gathering in October, Extension Educator Jennie Wagner has developed a new online training tool for Master Gardener volunteers. As the climate changes and more species face habitat loss, our gardenscapes will be an important part of conservation efforts. In this Hot Topic, we'll explore how to choose plants that will minimize inputs and support the ecosystem around them. Expect to take approximately one hour to
complete this module. Creating a Home Landscape: Sustainable Design Basics for Homeowners—
Climate-resilient Pollinator Habitats Across Minnesota Landscapes - 1/27-1/30
Curious about how climate change is impacting pollinators? Join Extension educators for an engaging webinar series to learn how you can support pollinators in any space—big or small—and help build resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change. You must pre-register for this series at z.umn.edu/BeeSeries to receive the webinar links.
Core Course Access 2025 - Coming Soon!
Brush up on your learning this winter and register for the Core Course. There’s no cost for returning volunteers. Watch for the January newsletter for details about how you can access the course.
Calendar |
● NO DECEMBER Meeting
● 12/21/24 – Last Materials Check-In Date
● 12/30–1/05 – RCMG Yard & Garden Hotline shifts
● 12/31/24 – Last chance to enter hours
● 1/01-1/10/25 – Online Pre-sale
● 1/09/25 – Intern-Mentor Welcome & Orientation
● 1/14/25 – January Board Meeting (on Zoom only)
● 1/21/25 – January Monthly Meeting (on Zoom only)
● 1/28/25 – RCMG Book Club Discussion
Quick Links |
RCMG Resources
Extension Resources
● Access the MN Arboretum for free with code MG2024